==Repose of the Venerable Irene==
In accordance with angelic prophecy, that Irene would repose on the day after St Panteleimon's feastday. The monastery kept the day before St Panteleimon as a feast to celebrate the anniversary of the monastery's founding.
Irene spent the whole week prior to that in preparation. She spent all of her days in meditation and fasting, drinking water and eating only small pieces from the last remaining apple, eaten because she felt her time of repose to be near. As soon as she ate the first fragment all enmity disappeared from the monastery, and the monastery was filled with fragrance from the apple. In a moment of doubt Irene cried out with great anguish. The sisterhood ran to her, and Irene recovered her composure, saying
:::"Today, my children, I depart from this world and you will see me no more. For the time has come for me to pass to eternal life. Therefore elect as your superior Sister Mary, for I know that she has already been chosen by God. I know that she will lead you according to His Will and keep you on the narrow path so that you will also attain to the broad avenues of paradise. Hate the world and all that is in it, for as our Lord and Master has said, 'Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, there is no love for the Father in him' (I John 2:15), because all these temporal things are vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Never follow the will of the flesh but only the Will of God because it is He who gave you all things that you may return them to Him in that day"
So, after her last instructions and nominating the next abbess of Chrysovalantou, she raised her hands and eyes to the heavens and prayed:
:::Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, the Good Shepherd who has saved and fed us with Your own most precious Blood, I deliver in Your Holy Hands this little flock. Hide it under the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 90), protect it from the wiles of the devil for Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory and to You we give thanks for ever and ever.
After she finished this prayer she sat up and smiled at the sight of the angels that greeted her, and her face was radiant. She closed her eyes and fell asleep in the Lord.
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Despite all these wonderful gifts our future saint was, after all, only a mortal being and the angel’s prophecy that she would be called to the divine presence on the day following the commemoration of St. Panteleimon had to be fulfilled. They kept the day before St. Panteleimon as the feast of the foundation of their monastery. Irene spent the whole week before the feast preparing herself by remaining all day in meditation and fasting.
This meant taking only water with small pieces Such was the crowd of both peasants and nobles who flocked to keep the all-night vigil over her body that extraordinary holy apple sent from paradise the monastery gates had to be closed by force. On the following day the beloved disciple of Christ our Lord. She ate it entire congregation, now because she felt that the time much larger, who came to join pay their final respects were amazed at the bridegroom beautiful features of one who was nearmore than 102 years of age. From Throughout the time ceremonies of eating that day the first fragment all enmity disappeared and the whole monastery convent was again filled with that extraordinary an unexplainable and indescribable fragrancewhich persisted at the saint’s burial place for many years. NeverthelessCountless miracles occurred at that site and to this day many of those who, in a moment faith, ask her prayers find that they are answered. All this the saint does to the continual frustration of the powers of doubt she cried out with great anguish darkness and the sisters rushed to her aid. By the grace eternal glory of God she immediately recovered her composure the all merciful Lord to Whom alone is due all honor might, majesty, dominion and saidpower, “Todaynow and ever, my children, I depart from this world and you will see me no more. For unto the time has come for me to pass to eternal lifeages of ages. Therefore elect as your superior Sister Mary, for I know that she has already been chosen by GodAmen. I know that she will lead you according to His Will and keep you on --> ==Hymnography=='''Apolytikion''' in the narrow path so that you will also attain to the broad avenues Plagal of paradise. Hate Tone One (Tone 5) ''modeled on 'Ton Synarnarhon Logon (Co-eternal with the world Father)' '' Not a temporal kingdom on earth didst thou obtain, but Christ, thy most comely Bridegroom, vouchsafed thee heavenly crowns, and thou reignest as a queen with Him eternally; for thou didst dedicate thyself unto Him with all that is in itthy soul, O Irene, for as our Lord righteous Mother, thou boast of Chrysovalantou, and Master has said, ‘Do not love mighty help of all the world or the things Orthodox. '''Kontakion''' in Tone Three ''modeled on 'I Parthenou Simeron (Today the world. If anyone loves Virgin)' '' Leaving all the worldbehind with its impermanent glory, thou wast wedded unto Christ, there is no love for the Father in him’ (I John 2King immortal and holy, bringing Him as precious dowry thy maiden beauty and thy trophies won through abstinence over demons. O Irene, our righteous Mother, entreat thy Bridegroom to show His mercy to us. ==Links==*http:15), because all these temporal things are vanity (Ecclesiastes 1//www.serfes.org/lives/stirene.htm*http:2)//www.stirene. Never follow the will of the flesh but only the Will of God because it is He who gave you all things that you may return them to Him in that dayorg/StIreneChrysovalantou/StIreneChrysovalantou_index.htm [[Category:Saints]]